The 12 Best Off-Leash Dog Parks in Vancouver
Sandy beaches, forest trails and grassy fields where your dog can run free — with the details existing lists never tell you: which spots are fenced, the off-leash hours, and where dogs can actually swim.
Vancouver is a dog's paradise, but the rules aren't obvious: some spots are fully fenced, some trails are leash-optional only on certain stretches, and a few have seasonal time restrictions. Here's where to go, what to expect, and which spots suit which dogs.
Spanish Banks
The crown jewel — a huge unfenced off-leash area at the west end of Spanish Banks with beach access, ocean and mountain views and tons of room to sprint. Off-leash 6am–10pm; keep dogs out of the signed creek area. Best when the tide's out.
Pacific Spirit Regional Park
More than 55 km of forest trails, each signed as leash-optional, leash-required or no-dogs — watch the signs. Off-leash dogs must stay within about 10 m and out of creeks. A proper nature escape minutes from the city.
John Hendry Park (Trout Lake)
A big off-leash area (6am–10pm) at the north end of the lake, with beach access and grassy space; no dogs on the sport fields. Trout Lake has had water-quality advisories in recent summers, so check the signs before your dog swims.
Hadden Park Dog Beach
A scenic, unfenced beach where dogs can wade and swim. A local favourite, with seasonal hours: May–September off-leash only 6–10am and 5–10pm; October–April 6am–10pm.
Charleson Park
A partly fenced grassy off-leash area open 6am–10pm, plus a waterfall area dogs can splash in (June–September only 6–10am and 5–10pm). Dogs are not allowed in the duck pond between the two main areas.
Coopers' Park
A fully fenced dog run right by the seawall, renewed in 2024, with a separate area for small or shy dogs and water for dogs. Open 6am–10pm. Convenient for downtown dwellers.
New Brighton Park
A spacious, fenced grassy off-leash area (5am–10pm), plus an unfenced beach area that is open to dogs October–April only. The fenced field is ideal for puppies and dogs still learning recall.
Everett Crowley Park
A forested, quieter park where designated trails are off-leash 6am–10pm (no dogs near Avalon Pond). Off the beaten path.
McDonald Beach Park
A designated off-leash area in a park with long stretches of beach on the Fraser River's North Arm; dogs must be leashed elsewhere in the park, which is open sunrise to sunset. The city warns the river current is very strong and unsafe for swimming.
Lighthouse Park
Old-growth forest and trails down to the shore. Well-behaved dogs that stay on the trails can be off-leash everywhere except Birdsong Path (leash of 2 m max, two dogs per person). Popular, so arrive early on weekends.
Confederation Park
Two options in one: two fenced enclosures (one for small dogs only) by the tennis courts, plus a 1.3 km off-leash forest loop trail north of Penzance Drive with great Burrard Inlet views. Open dawn to dusk.
Buntzen Lake
An off-leash area beside Buntzen Creek, reached by the trail to the right of the main beach (dogs can't go through the main beach itself). Trail guides describe it as fenced, but it runs into the lake. The water's not warm, but it's calmer than the ocean — great for a swim.
Find your next park on the map
Off Leash is a free app that maps dog parks across Metro Vancouver — filter for fenced parks and see which dogs are there right now before you head out.
Off-leash, answered
Where can I take my dog off-leash in Vancouver?
Vancouver has dozens of off-leash areas — from beach spots like Spanish Banks and Hadden Park to the forest trails of Pacific Spirit and fenced runs like Coopers’ Park downtown. Everywhere else in city parks, dogs must be leashed. The 12 spots in this guide are the best places to start, and the Off Leash app maps dog parks across Vancouver and shows which dogs are there right now.
Which Vancouver dog parks are fenced?
Fully fenced options include Coopers' Park (downtown, with a separate small/shy dog area) and the grassy off-leash field at New Brighton Park (Hastings-Sunrise; its beach area isn't fenced). Confederation Park in Burnaby has two fenced enclosures, one for small dogs only, plus an off-leash trail. Charleson Park is partly fenced. These are the safest picks for puppies and dogs still working on recall.
Are there off-leash dog beaches in Vancouver?
Yes. In the City of Vancouver, dogs are allowed only at beaches with designated off-leash areas: Spanish Banks, Hadden Park, John Hendry Park (Trout Lake), New Brighton Park and Sunset Beach. Hadden Park has seasonal hours, and New Brighton's beach is open to dogs only October–April. Outside the city, Buntzen Lake has an off-leash area that runs into the lake. Richmond warns that the Fraser River at McDonald Beach is unsafe for swimming.
Do Vancouver off-leash parks have time restrictions?
Most City of Vancouver off-leash areas are open 6am–10pm, but some have seasonal limits. Hadden Park is off-leash only 6–10am and 5–10pm from May to September (6am–10pm October–April), Charleson Park's waterfall area follows the same split hours June–September, and New Brighton's beach is off-limits to dogs from May to September. Burnaby's off-leash areas are open dawn to dusk. Rules can change, so read the signage before you unclip.
Last updated October 2026. Spotted an error, a closure, or a spot we missed? Let us know — we keep the map current.